I think Beam is still too preoccupied with integration of its Allied acquisitions to be bothered with small potatoes like Old Overholt, or rye whiskey in general, but I suspect they will get around to it. If someone like Diageo or Brown-Forman makes a move into a straight rye, they will react, otherwise they may not. They don't pay much attention to the Heaven Hills and Buffalo Traces of the world.

I don't think though they should assume what is small potatoes. Acquisition is all very well, but it does not substitute for product development and creation of line extensions. Companies have the ability to break through the wall on stuff like this. I am not saying Overholt is the answer (although who knows) but more attention to the brand would show me they care about the brand and where it came from, heritage in a word but also that they have their eye on the future.

All brands have a natural life. What will replace, ultimately, Beam white label?

In my opinion, Overholt should have been included in the small batch series. As now constituted, it is too repetitive. And to do that, the perfect way would have been to include a barrel-proof Overholt (or Jim Beam rye).

I strongly agree with Gary. Old Overholt, in particular, is MUCH better than it was even a few years ago, and I admit to having a soft spot in my heart (aka bias) for it since it was my first rye. I would jump at a barrel proof or BIB OO. Rittenhouse BIB is not available here, or even the 80 proof, BTW, which is very annoying given the accolades heaped on the BIB. Pikesville Supreme, at 80 proof, is available with some difficulty, but nothing to write home about. Not bad, but not blog-inspiring. WT Rye is about $23 per bottle, IF it can be found, and that is way more than the $12.49/liter for OO, and definitely not worth it, IMHO. Personally, I wouldn't care if Wild Turkey distillery bit the dust, so to speak, for many reasons, but it would be great to try Rittenhouse BIB and the OO, as a barrel proof or BIB, could be amazing. My open ryes right now are Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye E 2076, Sazerac 18 2004, and OO, and next up is one of my Saz 2001s.

Why would anyone say such a thing? I love that Turkey! I'm actually taking my last final exam Friday night to finish my long overdue Bachelor's Degree. If I stay in I'm going to celebrate with WT 12, WT 15, and then the big boy himself..GTS.